Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’

Northampton isn't exactly the most glamorous destination on the planet, but its club delivers plenty of thrills and drama.

In a place renowned for shoe production, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold choose to keep ball in hand.

Even though playing for a typically British town, they display a panache associated with the greatest French masters of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the Premiership and progressed well in the continental tournament – losing to a French side in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a penultimate round earlier.

They sit atop the league standings after four wins and a draw and travel to Ashton Gate on matchday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, had long intended to be a coach.

“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “Yet as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing an internship. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Move forward several seasons and Dowson leads a team progressively packed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for the national side facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, eventually, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable cohort because of the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It is a mix of each,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a collective is certainly one of the reasons they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also mentions his predecessor, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “Jim had a significant influence on my professional journey, my coaching, how I manage people.”

Northampton play attractive football, which proved literally true in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The Gallic player was involved with the French club beaten in the European competition in April when Freeman notched a hat-trick. He liked what he saw sufficiently to reverse the trend of English talent heading across the Channel.

“An associate rang me and stated: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We don’t have budget for a overseas star. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with Belleau and his English was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock offers a specific enthusiasm. Has he coached an individual like him? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “Each person is unique but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

His sensational try against their opponents previously demonstrated his freakish skill, but various his animated in-game behavior have led to claims of cockiness.

“At times appears cocky in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Henry’s being serious all the time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I feel sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and a positive influence in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he explains. “We have a book club. He desires to explore everything, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on numerous things away from rugby: movies, literature, thoughts, culture. When we faced our French rivals last year, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

A further date in France is looming: The Saints' comeback with the Prem will be brief because the Champions Cup kicks in next week. The French side, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team arrive at the following weekend.

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